ABYSSINIA

10

ABYSSINIA

less mountainous and somewhat rolling.

These highlands are the source of a num-
ber of important rivers, among them the
Atbara and Blue Nile. With the exception
of the Blue Nile, none of the streams in this
region is navigable.

Climate. Abyssinia is divided into three
elimatie areas. The first includes those por-
tions having an altitude below 4,800 feet,
which possess a tropical or semi-tropical
climate. The second embraces regions ex-
tending from 4,800 to 9,000 feet, which have
a temperate climate, the average temper-
ature being from 80° to 48°, according to
altitude. The third embraces those portions
of the country having an altitude above
9,000 feet. Here the average temperature
is from 50° to 45°. In the lowlands the
rainy season is from December to May, and
in the'higher lands of the interior two rainy
seasons prevail, the first from April to June
and the second from July to October.
Throughout the country the climate is health-
ful. -

Mineral [Resources, Ores of iron and
silver and deposits of salt and coal are found
in the mountains and on the plateau. Gold
is found in the beds of the streams, and re-
cent explorations indicate that there are
rich veins in the mountains, but none of the
mines has been worked to any extent.

Agriculture. Agriculture is the principal
industry. The land is divided among fam-
ilies instead of among individuals, and pos-
session holds only during occupancy. The
methods of cultivation are primitive, but
the soil is fertile and yields good returns.
The vegetation of the lowlands is luxuriant,
and tropical fruits, sugar cane, eofee, ba-
nanas, indigo, cotton and dates are culti-
vated. In the middle region are found
cereals, oranges, lemons, olives and fruits of
the temperate region, while in the third
region grazing and cultivation of the more
hardy cereals, such as wheat, oats and rye,
are the chief occupation. There are no
manufactures worthy of mention,

Commerce. The commerce is limited.
The imports have been restricted to bare
necessities, and the exports to those com-
modities that can be most easily transported.
A railway now extends from the French
port of Djibouti, on the Gulf of Aden, to
Harar, the chief commercial center of the
country, and has been continued to Addis
Ababa, the capital. This road furnishes an

important outlet for the products of the
region through which it passes, and will be
the means of increasing- the commerce. The
leading foreign nations in trade with Abys-
sinia are Great Britain and the "United
States. A coin is issued by the king and is
known as the Maria Theresa dollar, but
bars of salt also are used for money,
Government and Eeligion. Abyssinia was
an absolute monarchy until 1031, almost un-
touched by the progress of political reform.
In the year named, after Ras Tafiri had
succeeded his niece, former Queen Zauditu,
a constitution was proclaimed, under which
the ruler, called negus negusti (king of
kings), would be advised by a legislature,
its members to be elected by the provinces.
On his coronation Ras adopted a new name
for his dynasty, that of Silassie. At the
semi-barbaric coronation rites he announced
the new royal name and his title as that of
Haile Silassie I, "King of Kings of Ethiopia,
Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah,
Elect of God, and Light of the World." For
centuries the government was based crudely
on old Roman codes, but petty princes ruled
the interior as they pleased. For 1,500 years
the country has been nominally a Christian
nation.
History. Abyssinia is one of the oldest
nations in existence. It is supposed that it
is the Cush of the Scriptures, and the people
believe it to have been the home of the
Queen of Sheba. The ruler claims his de-
scent from Menelek, the son of this queen
and King Solomon, but good authorities
consider his claims somewhat fanciful. By
the spread of Mohammedanism at the close
of the sixth century the people were cut off
from intercourse with other countries, and
as a result they relapsed into partial barbar-
ism. In the fourteenth century the country
began to regain its power and flourished for
about jfcwo hundred years, when its inter-
course with foreign nations was again cut
off, and it remained secluded until about the
beginning of the nineteenth century. In
1868 the Abyssinians were brought into con-
flict with the British because of depredations
upon British outposts. They were thor-
oughly defeated and the king committed
suicide. Menelek II was made king in 1889
and proved a shrewd and able administrator.
In the year of the succession of Ki&g Men-
elek to the throne, Italy attempted to secure
a protectorate over Abyssinia by force of